Neck chain medal lock



QC? 25 196) L 2,957,216

NECK CHAIN MEDAL LOCK Filed Sept. El, 1959 INVENTOR.

MICHAEL MULE BY 5 ATTOPA/ZV United States Patent NECK CHAIN MEDAL LOCK Michael Mule, 314 Stockholm St., Brooklyn, NY. Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 841,157

6 Claims. (Cl. 24-3) The invention relates generally to the art of jewelry findings and more particularly concerns a lock for a chain or cord, especially a neck chain for supporting a locket, medal, charm or other article of jewelry upon the neck of a person. It is also comprehended that parts of the invention may be put to other uses such as carrying bundles of papers in post offices, carrying high tension wires, or carrying devices used in space rockets, balloons, parachutes and the like, and as a car lift on atow truck.

According to the invention there is provided a device which will prevent an article of jewelry from sliding along a supporting chain or cord when worn. The article is held in a properly displayed position and the suspension chain or cord is prevented from turning and twisting. The device includes a pliable or flexible metal clasp provided with a looped tongue element having a T-shaped tip or key adapted to lock in a correspondingly shaped hole in the body of the clasp. The loop securely supports the article of jewelry to be displayed. A plurality of apertures and a pair of tabs are provided on the body of the clasp. The chain or cord is threaded through the apertures and engaged by the tabs which are bent over to securely lock the chain or cord therein. The locking clasp is thus prevented from moving along the suspension chain or cord and becoming entangled. A cover is provided for the clasp to conceal the locking apertures and interweaving of the chain or cord therein. The cover may' be ornamented if desired. The clasp may also be used to shorten and to adjust the length of the chain or cord thus avoiding knotting and tying as has been done heretofore.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a locking clasp for supporting an ornamental article of jewelry and for engaging a supporting chain or cord to prevent slippage therealong of the clasp.

A further object is to provide a clasp of the character described including a body provided with apertures for threading a supporting neck chain or cord there through, with tabs for engaging the chain or cord, and with a pliable tongue for supporting the article of jewelry, the tongue being removably engageable in a T-slot in the body of the clasp.

A still further object is to provide a clasp as described with an ornamental cover for concealing the threading of the chain or cord on the clasp.

Another object is to provide a clasp and cover formed from flat pliable metal blank elements.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved deice vice in assembled form supporting an article of jewelry thereon, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp, chain and article of jewelry of Fig. l, with the cover of the device removed, the chain being shown partly in dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the clasp per se in partially bent form.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a flat blank from which the clasp is formed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the cover in partially bent form.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a flat blank from which the cover is formed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a lock device 10 made according to the invention securely engaged on an intermediate portion of a flexible chain 12. This chain may be part of a necklace, bracelet, anklet, or the like. The invention is illustrated in connection with a chain, but it will be understood that any other type of elongated flexible suspension cord may be employed instead, such as one made of braided cord, woven ribbon, plastic string or the like,

An article of jewelry 40 such as a medal, charm or the like, provided with an eye or ring 42 is removably supported by the bent tongue 21. The ring 42 is placed on the tongue prior to engagement of key 23 in hole 25. After the key 23 is locked in the hole 25, the article of jewelry is held in a non-turnable suspended position by the looped tongue. The head 23 of key 23 of the tongue is passed through the rear of the hole 25 of the panel 16 and protrudes from the front thereof just above panel 17 as shown in Fig. 2.

Chain 12 is threaded through the clasp body 15. This is done initially by threading the chain through the two holes 34, 36 in panel 17 so that the center of the chain forms a bight portion 12 underneath panel 17 as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Spaced portions 12 12 of the chain pass upwardly through holes 34, 36, respectively, and through hole 20. These portions of the chain pass upwardly along the rear face of panel 16 and emerge respectively at 12', 12 through hole 18 to the front of panel 16. The individual chain portions are then passed through the looped tabs 26, 28 from their inner or opposing edges 26*, 28 to emerge at their outer edges 26*, 28 The free ends 12 and 12" of the chain emerge in spaced alignment from the axially aligned looped locking elements defined by tabs 26, 28. Due to the interweaving of the chain or cord 12 through the various holes in panels 16 and 17 and locking of the chain by tabs 26, 28, the clasp body cannot slide along the elongated chain. Thus the article of jewelry as shown in Fig. l retains its centrally disposed position on the chain in forward facing disposition. If it is desired to shorten the chain, the portions 12 and 12 may be passed downwardly from hole 18 through hole 20 and again upwardly through hole 18 before passing to the locking tabs 26, 28.

Fig. 6 shows a fiat metal blank member from which there is formed the cover 50. This member is die cut from a single piece of pliable jewelry metal. Tabs 54, 60 extend from the top and side edges of the blank memher which is folded along vertical lines E-E, FF to define the several panels 52, 56 and 58 shown in folded form in Fig. 5, wherein an ornamental design 65 is shown on panel 52. Further folds are made along lines GG and HH to lock tabs 60 on the clasp body, and fold II locks the tab 54 on the top of the clasp body between tabs 26, 28.

When necessary, the article of jewelry 40 can be removed by unbending tongue 21 to disengage key 23 from the clasp body to release the jewelry. The chain 12 can be disengaged from the clasp body by bending back tabs 54 and 60 to remove the cover 50, bending back tabs 26, 28 to open them as shown in Fig. 3 and then unthreading the chain from the holes in the panels 16 and 17. A new article of jewelry can then be engaged on tongue 21. and a new chain, cord or ribbon can then be threaded and locked on the clasp body. The cover 50 may then be replaced upon the clasp body as shown in- Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the improved clasp may be made of any suitable material such as semi-rigid plastic and may be made of any desired size.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A locking device for an article of jewelry on a chain or the like, comprising a clasp body having a pair of panels bent perpendicular to each other, spaced tabs formed at one edge of a first one of said panels, and a tongue extending from a free edge of a second one of the panels, said first panel having a first pair of spaced holes and said second panel having a second pair of spaced holes therein for threading said chain therethrough, said tabs forming tubular elements locking spaced portions of the chain in parallel alignment, whereby the body is prevented from sliding and turning on the chain, one of said panels having a T-shaped hole therein, said tongue being formed with a T-shaped tip adapted to lock in the T-shaped hole to define a loop for supporting said article of jewelry.

2. A locking device for an article of jewelry on a chain or the like, comprising a clasp body having a pair of panels bent perpendicular to each other, spaced tabs formed at one edge of a first one of said panels, a tongue extending from a free edge of a second one of the panels, said first panel having a first pair of spaced holes and said second panel having a second pair of spaced holes therein for threading said chain therethrough, said tabs forming tubular elements locking spaced portions of the chain in parallel alignment, whereby the body is prevented from sliding and turning on the chain, one of said panels having a T-shaped hole therein, said tongue being formed with a T-shaped tip adapted to lock in the T-shaped hole to define a loop for supporting said article of jewelry; and a channel-shaped cover removably disposed over said first panel to cover the threading of the chain thereon.

3. A locking device for an article of jewelry on a chain or the like, comprising a clasp body having a pair of panels bent perpendicular to each other, spaced tabs formed at one edge of a first one of said panels, a tongue extending from a free edge'ofa second one of the panels, said first panel having a first pair of spaced holes and said second panel having a second pair of spaced holes therein for threading said chain therethrough, said tabs forming tubular elements locking spaced portions of the chain in parallel alignment, whereby the body is prevented from sliding and turning on the chain, one of said panels having a T-shaped hole therein, said tongue being formed with a T-shaped tip adapted to lock in the T-snaped hole to define a loop for supporting said article of jewelry, and a channel-shaped cover removably disposed over said first panel to cover the threading of the chain thereon, said cover being formed with a first tab engaging and locking on said spaced portions of the chain and with further tabs engaging on said first panel.

4. A locking device for an article of jewelry on a chain or the like, comprising a clasp body having a pair of panels bent perpendicular to each other, spaced tabs formed at one edge of a first one of said panels, a tongue extending from a free edge of a second one "of the panels, said first panel having a first pair of spaced holes and said second panel having a second pair of spaced holes therein for threading said chain therethrough, said tabs forming tubular elements locking spaced portions of the chain in parallel alignment, whereby the body is prevented from sliding and turning on the chain, 'one of said panels having a T-shaped hol'e therein, said tongue being formed with a T-shaped tip adapted to lock in the T-shaped hole to define a loop for supporting said article of jewelry, and a channel-shaped cover removably disposed over said first panel to cover the threading of the chain thereon, said cover being formed with a first tab engaging and locking on said spaced portions of the chain and with further tabs engaging on said first panel, said first panel having notches receiving said further tabs.

5. A locking device for an article of jewelry on a chain or the like, comprising a clasp body having a pair of panels bent perpendicular to each other, spaced tabs formed at one edge of a first one of said panels, a tongue extending from a free edge of a second one of the panels, said first panel having a first pair of spaced holes and said second panel having a second pair of spaced holes therein for threading said chain therethrough, said tabs forming tubular elements locking spaced portions of the chain in parallel alignment, whereby the body is prevented from sliding and turning on the chain, one of said panels having a T-shaped hole therein, said tongue being formed with a T-shaped tip adapted to lock in the T-shaped hole to define a loop for supporting said article of jewelry, and a channel-shaped cover removably disposed over said first panel to cover the threading the chain thereon, said cover being formed with a first tab engaging and locking on said spaced portions of the chain and with further tabs engaging on said first panel, said first panel having notches receiving said further tabs, said tongue and panel having exposed portions carrying ornaments supplementing the decorative effect of said article of jewelry.

6. A locking device for an article of jewelry on a chain or the like, comprising a clasp body having a pair of panels bent perpendicular to each other, spaced tabs formed at one edge of a first one of said panels, a tongue extending from a free edge of a second one of the panels, said first panel having a first pair of spaced holes and said second panel having a second pair of spaced holes therein for threading said chain therethrough, said tabs forming tubular elements locking spaced portions of the chain in parallel alignment, whereby the body is prevented from sliding and turning on the chain, one of said panels having a T-shaped hole therein, said tongue being formed with a T-shaped tip adapted to lock in the T-shaped hole to define a loop for supporting said article of jewelry, and a channel-shaped cover removably disposed over said first panel to cover the threading of the chain thereon, said cover being formed with a first tab engaging and locking on said spaced portions of the chain and with further tabs engaging on said first panel, said first panel having notches receiving said'further tabs, said clasp body and cover being formed of pliable metal material whereby said tabs may be bent to release the cover and chain and the tongue may be bent to release said article of jewelry.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,141,992 Toelcke June 8, 1915 1,315,768 Fulgora Sept. 9, 1919 1,671,811 Centanni Mar. 29, 1928 1,729,578 Gogan Sept. 24, 19-29 

